Vehicle seat having combined horizontal and vertical frame mounting system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat assembly with integrated safety restraint belts includes a bottom frame and a backrest frame. The backrest frame is pivotally connected to the bottom frame by first and second pivot elements. The first and second pivot elements may include motor driven actuator screws for remotely controlling the pivoted position of the backrest frame under power. The bottom frame includes first and second side rails which are anchored to the outer sill panel and the floor panel, respectively, for providing a sturdy mounting arrangement to withstand high loading and stresses during sudden deceleration. The integrated safety restraint belt includes a shoulder strap segment connected to the upper end of the backrest frame, above the first pivot element, and a lap strap segment. A spool, mounted to the bottom frame, plays out and reels in strap material from a concealed segment interposed between the spool and the shoulder strap segment. The concealed segment of the safety restraint belt is hidden within a hollow stile of the backrest frame. A guide is mounted within the hollow stile, for controlling the concealed segment within the hollow passage during movement of the safety restraint belt to help prevent binding or misalignment when the backrest frame is articulated. An anti-rotation stop plate is formed as part of the bottom frame and positioned to abut a nose portion of the first pivot element in the event of severe loading and deformation resulting from sudden deceleration. In this manner, the anti-rotation stop plate restrains unwanted deformation of the first pivot element relative to the bottom frame.

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority to and all of the benefits ofco-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/025,313 whichwas filed on Sep. 24, 1996 and is entitled "All Belts to Seat Assembly."

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates generally to a vehicle seat having animproved mounting configuration with respect to the underlying floorpanel structure.

2. Description of Related Art

Vehicular, and in particular automotive, seat assemblies are becomingincreasingly unitized so that they can be rapidly and easily installedas a modular component in the passenger compartment via an assembly linetype operation, thereby reducing vehicle assembly time and the assemblyline personnel required to complete the installation. One suchadaptation toward this end has been the integration of a safetyrestraint belt with the seat assembly. In this manner, the seat assemblytogether with the safety restraint belt are installed as an integralunit in the passenger compartment at the time of vehicle manufacture.

One important consideration when the safety restraint belt is integratedwith the seat assembly becomes the strength and integrity of theconnection between the seat assembly and the underlying floor panel soas to withstand the severe loading which may occur in emergencysituations of sudden deceleration, such as may occur in a collision.Sudden deceleration creates elevated forces resulting from the mass of aseated and restrained occupant tending to remain in motion, while thevehicle rapidly decelerates. Under these conditions, when the safetyrestraint belt is rapidly tensioned by the momentum of an occupant, therestraining forces are transmitted from the safety restraint belt andthrough the various structures in the seat assembly, and finally to thelocations at which the bottom frame is anchored to the floor of thepassenger compartment. The bottom frame typically includes a pair ofside rail which have respective mounting features for fastening to thefloor panel. These mounting features must be adequately designed toprevent unnecessary injury to the occupant, and yet be relativelyconvenient to access and manipulate during the seat installationprocess.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly having anintegrated safety restraint belt, and comprising an automobile includinga floor panel having an edge and an outer sill panel fixed to the edgeof the floor panel. A seat assembly is fixed to the floor panel. Theseat assembly includes a bottom frame having a first side rail adjacentthe outer sill panel and a second side rail. A sill anchor is providedfor attaching the first side rail directly to the outer sill panel.Similarly, a floor anchor is provided for attaching the second side raildirectly to the floor panel.

The combined anchoring of the bottom frame to the floor panel and theouter sill panel provides a sturdy mounting arrangement to withstandhigh loading and stresses during sudden deceleration, which high loadingresults from the safety restraint belt being connected directly to thebottom and backrest frames of the seat assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated-belt automotive seatassembly according to the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of an integrated-beltautomotive seat assembly according to the subject invention with thefabric and cushion layers removed;

FIG. 3 is side view of the first side rail and first pivot element,showing the nose portion of the first pivot element bearing against thestop plate in phantom as during severe sudden deceleration;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the first side railshowing the cuff;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the seat assembly showing the concealed segmentof the safety restraint belt routed within the hollow stile of thebackrest frame;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the second side rail showing the second hookanchor and floor anchor mounting features; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the first and second side rails showing the hookanchor and floor/sill anchor mounting features.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a vehicle seatassembly is generally indicated at 10. The vehicle seat assembly 10 isof the type adapted for use in an automobile having an interiorpassenger compartment with at least one doorway access, such that theseat assembly 10 is disposed in the passenger compartment proximate thedoorway. The seat assembly 10 includes a bottom or seat portion,generally indicated at 12, and a backrest portion, generally indicatedat 14, both shown in FIG. 1. The seat assembly 10 is of the typical typeincluding an outer fabric or other sheet-like cover and an inner layerof foam or other cushion material. In FIG. 2, the seat assembly 10 isshown with the outer cover and cushion layers removed.

The seat assembly 10 is of the type having an integrated safetyrestraint belt, generally indicated at 16. The safety restraint belt 16,including a lap strap segment 18 and shoulder strap segment 20, isanchored directly to the seat assembly 10 so that in the event ofloading, as during sudden deceleration, elevated forces resulting fromthe mass of a seated and restrained occupant are transferred from thesafety restraint belt 16 to the seat assembly 10. Therefore, the designof the seat assembly 10 and its attachment within the passengercompartment of an automobile must be capable of withstanding andaccommodating the foreseeable forces of sudden deceleration.

The seat portion 12 includes an internal bottom frame 22, best shown inFIG. 2. The bottom frame 22 has laterally opposed first 24 and second 26sides. In the preferred embodiment, the first side 24 is associated withthe outside or door side of the passenger compartment. A first side rail28 extends along the first side of the bottom frame 22, and a secondside rail 30 extends along the second side of the bottom frame 22. Thefirst 28 and second 30 side rails each have a generally C-shaped crosssection including a top 32, a bottom 34 and a side 36. The respectivesides 36 of each of the first 28 and second 30 side rails are disposedtoward, or facing, one another. The first side rail 28 includes aforward end corresponding to a forward end 38 of the bottom frame 22,and a rearward end corresponding to a rearward end 40 of the bottomframe 22. Likewise, the second side rail 30 includes a forward endcorresponding to the forward end 38 of the bottom frame 22, and arearward end corresponding to the rearward end 40 of the bottom frame22. In common fashion, the first 28 and second 30 side rails aretelescopically adjustable to allow adjustment of the seat assemblyposition within the passenger compartment depending upon the size of theoccupant.

Furthermore, each of the first 28 and second 30 side rails includes arespective cuff 42 affixed to the rearward ends thereof for preventingunwanted deformation of the side rails 28, 30 in the event of severeloading as a result of high tensile forces imposed on the safetyrestraint belt 16. The cuffs 42 include a body 44 having opposing topand bottom ends and a pair of ears 46 extending generallyperpendicularly from the opposing top and bottom ends of the body 44.The ears 46 are fixedly attached one each to the top 32 and bottom 34 ofthe respective first 28 and second 30 side rails, as by welding. Thecuffs 42 help rigidify the side rails 28, 30, so as to better withstandelevated forces occurring during instances of sudden deceleration. Thatis, the cuffs 42 help to prevent expansion of the C-shaped cross-sectionof the side rails 28, 30.

The backrest portion 14 includes an internal backrest frame 48 having anupper end 50 and a lower end 52, best shown in FIG. 2. A first pivotelement, generally indicated at 58 in FIGS. 2 and 3, pivotally connectsthe lower end 52 of the backrest frame 48 to the first side 24 of thebottom frame 22. Similarly, a second pivot element, generally indicatedat 60, pivotally connects the lower end 52 of the backrest frame 48 tothe second side 26 of the bottom frame 22. The first 58 and second 60pivot elements permit and control articulating movement of the backrestportion 14 relative to the seat portion 12 to optimize occupant comfort.

The first pivot element 58 includes a first power adjustor forcontrolling pivotal movement of the backrest frame 48 relative to thebottom frame 22. The first power adjustor includes a protective housing62 having a forwardly protruding nose portion 64, and a first bell crank66 pivotally carried in the housing 62. An actuator screw 68 and nut 70disposed within the housing 62. The first bell crank 66 includes anupper leg 72 fixed to the lower end 52 of the backrest frame 48 and alower leg 74 fixed to the actuator screw 68. An electric motor 76forcibly rotates the nut 70, via a flexible drive shaft, causing theactuator screw 68 to either pull or push the lower leg 74 of the firstbell crank 66. This, in turn, pivots the backrest portion 14 relative tothe seat portion 12.

In like manner, the second pivot element 60 also includes a second poweradjustor for controlling pivotal movement of the backrest frame 48relative to the bottom frame 22 in unison with the first power actuator.A second bell crank 78 is pivotally carried in a protective housing 80,and has an upper leg 82 fixed to the lower end 52 of the backrest frame48 and a lower leg 84 fixed to an actuator screw 86. The same electricmotor 76 simultaneously actuates both of the first and second poweradjustors via flexible drive shafts.

The backrest frame 48 includes at least one stile 88 having a hollowpassage extending between the lower end 52 and an opening 90 adjacentthe upper end 50. The hollow stile 88 is generally aligned with thefirst side 24 of the bottom frame 22, and normally corresponds to theoutside, or door side, of the automobile in which case the seat assembly10 shown in FIG. 2 would be positioned on the passenger side of theautomobile. A concealed segment 92 of the safety restraint belt 16 isenshrouded within hollow stile 88. The concealed segment 92 terminatesat the shoulder strap segment 20. A pulley 94 is disposed within thehollow passage of the stile 88, adjacent the opening 90, for routing thesafety restraint belt 16 between the concealed 92 and shoulder strap 20segments.

A power spring driven spool 96 is secured to the rearward end 40 of thebottom frame 22 for dispensing the safety restraint belt 16 to theconcealed segment 92 within the stile 88. To control the concealedsegment 92 within the hollow passage of the stile 88 during playing outand reeling in of the safety restraint belt 16, a guide 98 is disposedwithin the hollow passage of the stile 88. The guide 98 is disposedproximate the lower end of the backrest frame. Preferably, the guide 98is made from a light-weight plastic material and secured within thestile 88 by simple fasteners.

An anti-rotation stop plate 100 is disposed between the bottom frame 22and the first pivot element for restraining unwanted deformation of thefirst pivot element relative to the bottom frame 22 in response to highload forces applied to the upper end 50 of the backrest frame 48 by theshoulder strap segment 20 of the safety restraint belt 16. Theanti-rotation stop plate 100 preferably comprises a rigid pad, in theform of a generally horizontal shelf extending from the first side rail24. The nose portion 64 of the housing 62 is disposed just above thestop plate 100, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The stop plate 100 together with the nose portion 64 of the firsthousing 62 serve to control and limit deflection under severe loadingconditions where the first pivot element begins to deform relative tothe bottom frame 22. The first pivot element is particularly prone toearly deformation because the shoulder strap segment 20 is located at adistance generally above the first pivot element, creating a substantialbending moment during severe loading conditions. During these instances,the nose portion 64 of the first housing 62 bends forwardly, as shown inFIG. 3, ultimately bearing against the stop plate 100 which resists itscontinued movement. By carefully spacing the nose portion 64 and thestop plate 100, and by selecting the yield characteristics of the stopplate 100, catastrophic failure can be avoided. Additionally, theoccupant can be buffered to some extent from the sudden deceleration dueto the absorption of a quantity of the forces by the sacrificial stopplate 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, an automobile incorporating the featuresof the subject invention includes a floor panel 102 having a lateraledge and an outer sill panel 104 fixed to the edge of said floor panel102. The outer sill panel 104 is sometimes also referred to as a rockeror rocker panel. The seat assembly 10 is fixed in position upon thefloor panel 102 in such a manner that the first side rail 28 liesadjacent the outer sill panel 104 and the second side rail is spacedfrom the outer sill panel 104. To securely hold the seat assembly 10 inposition even during severe loading conditions, a sill anchor 106 isprovided for attaching the first side rail 28 directly to the outer sillpanel 104 and a floor anchor 108 attaches the second side rail 30directly to the floor panel 102.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the sill anchor106 is disposed adjacent the rearward end 40 of the first side rail 28.The sill anchor 106 may include a threaded sill fastener, in combinationwith a sill nut 110 integrally attached to the outer sill panel 104 andwhich receives the threaded sill fastener. The threaded sill fastenerextends generally horizontally between the sill nut 110 and the firstside rail 28. Most expediently, the first side rail 28 includes agenerally horizontally extending mounting hole 112 therein for receivingthe threaded sill fastener. The sill nut 110 is welded to a generallyvertical mounting surface in a distended portion 114 of the outer sillpanel 104.

Likewise, the floor anchor 108 is disposed adjacent the rearward end 40of the second side rail 30. The floor anchor also includes a threadedfloor fastener, in combination with an floor nut 116, integral with thefloor panel 102, for receiving the threaded floor fastener of the flooranchor 108. The threaded floor fastener extends generally verticallybetween the floor nut 116 and the second side rail 30. The floor nut 116is welded to the underside of a generally horizontal mounting surface118 the floor panel 102. In the embodiment illustrated in the Figures,the second side rail 30 includes an L-shaped mounting bracket 120abutting against the horizontal mounting surface 120. The mountingbracket has a generally vertically extending hole therein for receivingthe threaded floor fastener.

To further facilitate the installation process, the first side rail 28includes a first hook anchor 122 disposed adjacent the forward end 38 ofthe bottom frame 22. The floor panel 102 includes a complimentary firsthook receptacle 124 for operatively receiving the first floor anchor 122to attach the first side rail 28 directly to the floor panel 102. Inlike manner, the second side rail 30 includes a second hook anchor 126adjacent the forward end 38. A complimentary second hook receptacle 128is mounted to the floor panel 102 for operatively receiving the secondfloor anchor 126 to attach the second side rail 30 directly to the floorpanel 102.

Accordingly, in order to install the subject seat assembly 10 within thepassenger compartment of the automobile, the forward end 38 is tiltedtoward the first 124 and second 128 hook receptacles, and thecorresponding first 122 and second 126 hook anchors brought intoregistry therewith. Then, the rearward end 40 of the assembly 10 islowered into position, until the sill anchor 106 is aligned with thesill nut 110 and the floor anchor 108 is aligned with the floor nut 116,at which time the respective threaded fasteners are advanced to securelyattach the seat assembly 10 within the passenger compartment. Thecombined anchoring of the bottom frame 22 to the floor panel 102 and theouter sill panel 104 provides a secure and particularly robust mountingarrangement, which is advantageous in view of the additional foreseeableforces resulting from the safety restraint belt 16 being integrated withthe seat assembly 10.

The method of installing the subject seat assembly 10 within thepassenger compartment of the automobile includes the steps of attachingor otherwise securing the outer sill panel 104 to the floor panel 102. Agenerally horizontal mounting surface 118 is formed in the floor panel,and a generally vertical mounting surface 114 is formed in the outersill panel 104. Then, the first side rail 28 of the bottom frame 22 isattached to the vertical mounting surface 114 of the outer sill panel104 while the second side rail 30 is attached to the horizontal mountingsurface 118 of the floor panel 102. As mentioned above, the combinedanchoring of the bottom frame 22 to the floor panel 102 and the outersill panel 104 provides a sturdy mounting arrangement to withstand highloading and stresses during sudden deceleration, as a result of thesafety restraint belt 16 being connected directly to the bottom 22 andbackrest 48 frames of the seat assembly 10.

The method step of attaching the first side rail 28 to the verticalmounting surface 114 of the outer sill panel 104 includes screwing athreaded sill fastener between the rearward end 40 of the first siderail 28 and the outer sill panel 104. Likewise, the step of attachingthe second side rail 30 to the horizontal mounting surface 118 of thefloor panel 102 includes screwing a threaded floor fastener between therearward end 40 of the second side rail 30 and the floor panel 102. Thestep of attaching the first side rail 28 to the vertical mountingsurface 114 further includes coupling the first hook anchor 122 betweenthe forward end 38 of the first side rail 28 and the outer sill panel104, whereas the step of attaching the second side rail 30 to thehorizontal mounting surface 118 of the floor panel 102 further includescoupling the second hook anchor 126 between the forward end 38 of thesecond side rail 30 and the floor panel 102. The screwing of thethreaded sill fastener step includes welding the sill nut 110 to thevertical mounting surface 114 of the outer sill panel 104, and thescrewing of the threaded floor fastener step includes welding the floornut 116 to the horizontal mounting surface 118 of the floor panel 102.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, whereinreference numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in anyway limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination automobile and seat assembly, saidcombination comprising:an automobile including a generally horizontalfloor panel and an outer sill panel having a generally vertical mountingsurface projecting above said floor panel; a seat assembly including abottom frame having first and second side rails, said first side railpositioned adjacent said outer sill panel, said first and second siderails lying in a plane which is generally parallel with said horizontalfloor panel; a sill anchor attaching said first side rail directly tosaid vertical mounting surface of said outer sill panel; and a flooranchor attaching said second side rail directly to said floor panel. 2.The assembly of claim 1, wherein said sill anchor includes a threadedsill fastener, and said outer sill panel includes an integral sill nutfor receiving said threaded sill fastener of said sill anchor.
 3. Theassembly of claim 2, wherein said sill nut is welded to said outer sillpanel.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said floor anchor includes athreaded floor fastener, and said floor panel includes an integral floornut for receiving said threaded floor fastener of said floor anchor. 5.The assembly of claim 4, wherein said floor nut is welded to said floorpanel.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first side rail includesa first hook anchor, said floor panel including a first hook receptaclefor receiving said first hook anchor.
 7. The assembly of claim 1,wherein said second side rail includes a second hook anchor, said floorpanel including a second hook receptacle for receiving said second hookanchor.
 8. A combination automobile and seat assembly, said combinationcomprising:an automobile including a generally horizontal floor paneland an outer sill panel having a generally vertical mounting surfaceprojecting above said floor panel; a seat assembly including:a bottomframe having first and second side rails, said first side railpositioned adjacent said outer sill panel; and a backrest extendinggenerally upward from said bottom frame, said backrest having an upperportion; a sill anchor attaching said first side rail directly to saidvertical mounting surface of said outer sill panel; a floor anchorattaching said second side rail directly to said floor panel; and asafety restraint belt having a pair of ends and an intermediate segmentbetween said ends, said intermediate segment positioned at said upperportion of said backrest, said pair of ends of said belt fastened tosaid bottom frame such that high load forces applied to said upperportion of said backrest by said intermediate segment of said belt aretransmitted through said ends of said belt and said bottom frame to saidouter sill panel.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein one of said endsof said safety restraint belt is fastened to said first side rail ofsaid bottom frame.
 10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said first andsecond side rails lie in a plane which is generally parallel with saidhorizontal floor panel.
 11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said sillanchor includes a threaded sill fastener, and said outer sill panelincludes an integral sill nut for receiving said threaded sill fastenerof said sill anchor.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said sill nutis welded to said outer sill panel.
 13. The assembly of claim 8, whereinsaid floor anchor includes a threaded floor fastener, and said floorpanel includes an integral floor nut for receiving said threaded floorfastener of said floor anchor.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, whereinsaid floor nut is welded to said floor panel.
 15. The assembly of claim8, wherein said first side rail includes a first hook anchor, said floorpanel including a first hook receptacle for receiving said first hookanchor.
 16. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said second side railincludes a second hook anchor, said floor panel including a second hookreceptacle for receiving said second hook anchor.